WILLEMSTAD, Curacao — Standing along the waterfront of either Punda or Otrobanda in downtown Willemstad, an impressive structure rises in the distance.
Not only is the Queen Juliana Bridge, a four-lane bridge that crosses Saint Anna Bay, the highest point on this Caribbean island, at 185 feet high, it’s the highest bridge in the Caribbean. It’s also said to be one of the highest bridges in the world. While that factoid might be debatable, the bridge nonetheless offers a spectacular view of the city below.
The current structure, named for Queen Juliana of the Netherlands, opened on April 30, 1974. This bridge replaced a structure that collapsed in 1967.
Weighing 3,400 tons, the bridge was built to accommodate the massive freighters that sail in and out of Saint Anna Bay. For tourists, the bridge is one of the best vantage points on the island, albeit a bit hair-raising at that.
IF YOU GO: There are no direct flights to Curacao from Atlanta. However, American Airlines offers direct service from Miami and Insel Air offers direct service from Charlotte, N.C. Both destinations are easily accessible from Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport.